Leya Kaufman

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I live in New York City’s Upper West Side with my husband, Joel, and 6-month-old son, Ezra. I work full-time as a Digital Sales Director at Hearst. I am also the author & founder of kaufMOM.com. kaufMOM is a new blog that takes a humorous, real approach to parenthood and pregnancy.

What 3 words best describe your parenting experience to date?

I’ve been a mom for a millisecond but so far, my experience has been: Hilarious, Unpredictable, and Loving.

What’s one of the hardest or most surprising things about being a parent that people wouldn’t expect or don’t usually talk about?

Your social life changes drastically. Or at least, mine did. But I love it! I’m still partying…I just prefer house parties now. House parties that include me, myself, my husband, and our son. House parties that start at 7am on a Saturday morning. House parties that include DJ set lists with hits like “Down by the Bay”….

What were some of your “wait...is this normal??” moments once you became a parent?

(1) Is it normal that…I’ve been legitimately jealous of other caretakers in my 6-month old son’s life. The nanny, my husband, the grandparents. Every minute anyone else gets with him somehow starts to feel like lost time! Every smile he throws in anyone’s direction but mine feels like he’s cheating on Mommy ;).

(2) Is it normal…To feel like time starts moving at warp speed when you become a parent? Every day my son continues to grow and evolve in such drastic ways, and it’s all happening so quickly. I just want him to stay this little for a little while longer.

(3) Is it normal…To LOVE reliving every single life stage through someone else? Their first smile, laugh, bite of food. Every NEW moment for my son feels like a new life moment for me too (all over again).

What’s one of your favorite parenting hacks that helps keep you sane (that other parents should know about and start doing ASAP)?

There are so many!!!! One of my favorites: Use a thin blanket on top of EVERYTHING during the newborn stage. And I mean everything. Leave a light blanket on top of the changing table, dokAtot, Baby Bjorn bouncer, high-chair, playmat. You’ll do twice as much laundry but have half as many catastrophes in the beginning because your blankies will catch a lot of different types of “explosions” for you ; ).